Chapter 2

CREATING A COCOON of coziness starts in the living room, which means it needs to be a space you and your family can really live in. And, well, it can be tough to get your snuggle on with stacks of old magazines dotting the coffee table and toys strewn about the floor. But here’s the best news: The living room is an area that everyone in the family inhabits, so that means that everyone in the family is responsible for keeping it tidy. Doling out the duties means you’ll get to that “ahhh” feeling even faster.

Your living room is also the perfect place to marry form and function. Sure, you technically need a media console to hold your TV and cable box, but it’s also a place to display framed family photos and seashells you collected from your last beach vacation. Bookshelves are utilitarian, but with a little work, they can also be beautiful. Blankets are for warmth, but the just-right combo of throws and pillows makes a personal style statement to whomever comes to visit. Here’s how to organize it all for the ultimate peace of mind and body.

Getting into the habit of clearing off your coffee table every night means you’ll have an open surface to rest your cup of joe in the morning.

Thoughtfully arranging your bookshelves or media center has a huge visual and mental payoff. Now you can really relax during movie night.

BEFORE YOU CAN SIT BACK AND RELAX IN YOUR COMFY SPACE, YOU’VE GOT TO PUT IN A LITTLE LEGWORK. PLAN A SMART LAYOUT WITH FURNITURE GROUPED SO PEOPLE CAN TALK. ENSURE EVERY SEAT IS WITHIN RANGE OF A COFFEE TABLE OR A SIDE TABLE, AND ADD SOME STORAGE OR SHELVING.

It’s easy to let magazines, games, and remotes pile up on the tabletop—and then where will the popcorn (or your feet!) go on movie night? Invest in a statement piece that does double duty: A coffee table with a bottom shelf, lid, or drawer gives you a place to store blankets, remotes (stash them on a tray or in a small basket for easy keeping), and a pretty stack of magazines. Ahhh . . . now pass the popcorn.

Thankfully, TVs have gotten slimmer and DVD collections are (mostly) a thing of the past. But that doesn’t mean that your console cords and random knickknacks won’t distract you during your next Netflix binge. Think of your media center as divided into zones: lower shelves and cupboards can fit boxes to house the few sentimental DVDs you’re still holding onto, and higher shelves are for framed family photos and mini sculptures. Bonus: When each shelf has an assigned purpose, putting things back is a breeze.

Avoid getting wires crossed by purchasing cord ties or the plastic zip ties that professional cable installers use. They’re not only incredibly cheap, they’re also super-effective. Zip-tie the cables together, then use sharp scissors to cut off the tie’s slack down to the nub. Next step: ID each cord by giving it a tag. Cords can become a tangled mess when you unplug the devices and the wires slip behind the furniture, even when they’re zip-tied, so use adhesive cable clips to hold each in place.

A large wicker basket is your living room’s best friend. Stock pillows and fold blankets or roll them to fit vertically, so you can see all the items in your cozy arsenal. Anything that doesn’t make it into the basket gets exiled. For hidden storage, a lidded bench or ottoman can hold soft items that you want within reach but won’t be needing year-round.

Cut down on visual clutter with a long-armed floor lamp that can swing over the sofa when the sun goes down or shed some light over a cozy reading chair. Having a versatile lighting option also means you won’t have to swap it out when you get the redecorating itch.

Board games can be bulky, and the mangled cardboard boxes can be an eyesore on living room shelves. A neater way to contain the fun: Slot a dozen of them into a hanging fabric organizer in a hall closet. Or, if you have the room, try plastic Game Savers storage units, which hold the boards and accessories to recent editions ( 1999 and later) of Clue, Sorry!, Parcheesi, Stratego, and more.

It’s a universal organizing truth that the bigger the side table, the more clutter it will collect. Choose one with enough surface area to fit a table lamp plus a little extra room for a book or a cup of coffee. Keeping it simple also means fewer places to set things (like your glasses), so you won’t have to go searching for them later.

Let’s be real: You can’t have everything in its place every moment of the day. But you can cut down on wayward stuff by giving it a defined space. Place a storage ottoman or large seagrass basket in a corner of the living room to stow plush toys or that random sweatshirt when you don’t have time to run them upstairs. Just commit to a deadline (say, the next morning, when you’re having coffee) to put back the items.

The long side of some L-shaped sofas lifts to reveal a hiding place for extra-large blankets that won’t fit on the sofa.

Find one with a lid that opens to reveal a place for a laptop, magazines, reading glasses, or slim books.

A secret storage book, which you can buy online, is made from a recycled volume with the center of some pages removed. Tuck the remote inside.

The best way to give a room good flow is to choose pieces that coordinate in some way without being matchy-matchy. If you have a brass chandelier, add a bronze bowl on the coffee table, or choose a sofa pillow with one color that’s like a shade in the rug.

If you have mostly squarish pieces in a room, it can feel one-note. Swap in some softer or rounded accents—an end table, a lamp, an ottoman, a glazed ceramic object—to offset the other elements.

Just because you have overheads doesn’t mean you’re set with lighting. A good rule of thumb is to add at least one floor lamp and one table lamp to brighten up the space and make it functional for reading.

Low seating, such as poufs, stools, or ottomans, is easy to move around for whenever you have extra guests.

“A universal remote is great to have on hand in your living room. Instead of keeping track of multiple remotes to operate the television, DVR, sound system, and DVD player, a single remote reduces clutter.”

—Erin Rooney Doland, organizer and editor in chief of Tumbleweed. Life and editor-at-large at Unclutterer.com

There’s no denying that a rainbow-stacked library is beautiful, but it’s not the best system when you need to grab the astronomy book when homework is due or you are looking for your favorite cookbook while the Bolognese is burning on the stove. Sort your books by subject or by which ones you’ll want most available when you need them.

If you don’t own traditional bookends, use large, smooth stones or rocks to keep books in line on a shelf while also adding an earthy vibe. Or, lay a few books in a horizontal stack to keep the standing stack from falling over.

You’ll fit the most books on a bookshelf by lining them up vertically, but a few horizontal stacks (larger art books work best) can add interest and be a tiny platform for framed photos or pretty objects.

Not everything is display-worthy. Put loose photos, manuals, and errant phone chargers in colorful boxes or baskets. Store them on the bottom shelf or in cabinets.

They’re not just pretty faces. Stylish boxes are smart places to store remotes, coasters, or reading glasses.

Wrap these Velcro ties around cable box and TV cords to keep everything together. They’re like cable ties, but no scissors required.

This goes-with-anything piece looks like a simple enough coffee table, but its top lifts up to reveal tons of storage space within. Genius.

WHILE THERE’S NO DEBATING THAT YOU NEED AN INVITING SPACE FOR LOUNGING, SIPPING COCKTAILS WITH FRIENDS, AND TV BINGING, THERE IS A THING AS TOO COZY. HERE’S HOW TO MAKE THE BEST OUT OF A TINY LIVING ROOM AREA.

No really, it’s fine to forgo a clunky table if you’ve got solid side tables, which take up less room than one that sits in front of the furniture. Or, if you just can’t give up on one, go for a slim bench or an acrylic table that seems almost invisible.

Corners are often overlooked as versatile spaces. They’re the perfect nooks for beanbags, stools, or reading chairs.

Instead of crowding precious surface space with picture frames, print out your favorite snaps (or upload your Instagrams) at socialprintstudio.com and create a photo display on your wall. Neon masking or decorative washi tape is a fun (and deposit-safe) way to attach images directly to the wall; try using framing wire and S-hooks to hang them; or just adhere Bulldog clips or repurposed CD jewel cases to create a quick-change display.

Big bookcases can feel heavy. A more airy option? Floating shelves that offer storage but take up less space than furniture. Plus, you can play with height: Line the top of your wall with books to get them up and out of the way while still making a decorative statement.

Hang or place a large mirror opposite your window. It’ll bounce light all around your living room, giving it a bright feel. Metallic accessories, like bronze figurines and silver candlesticks, give off a similar glow.

For a small space, consider a media console with cabinet doors. It hides cords and is a great place to also stash board games, DVDs you can’t part with, and books, all without adding visual clutter to your hangout.

◻ MOVE THE BIG STUFF. Sweaters, toys, and snack bowls need to go back to their homes in a flash. Throw anything else into hidden storage, like drawers and benches.

◻ CLEAR THE TABLES. Uncluttered surfaces make a room look instantly organized. Place books and magazines in piles on the bottom shelves of your coffee table and side tables.

◻ ROLL AWAY. Fold your blankets flat, then roll them like cinnamon bun dough, and place them vertically in a basket. Using this system means you’ll see your entire stash at a glance, and any ones that don’t fit can be put in another room.

◻ WHITTLE DOWN THE MAGAZINE PILE. Recycle any monthly magazines older than two months, and weeklies past two weeks. (But archive the Real Simple magazines, of course! We kid.) Newspapers older than a week have got to go, too.

◻ FLUFF THE PILLOWS. Sounds silly, but just readjusting the stuffing inside your pillows and arranging them anew on the sofa can make the room look tidy.

◻ TACKLE THOSE BOOKSHELVES. Take a day to measure your shelves and shop for bins that will fit along the bottom. Then, take everything off the shelves (except for your TV if your shelves surround it), and put it on the floor. Start with your books, arranging them back on the shelves by subject, and donate what won’t fit. Then, move on to the bottom shelf bins, throwing in extra items that you don’t want visible. Finally, add picture frames and decorative objects to the remaining shelves.

◻ BOARD UP THE GAMES. Open each game and take inventory of missing pieces. If a game is missing so many pieces that it’s unplayable, it’s time to toss it and get a new version. But if you’re just missing a Monopoly character, replace it with a small toy or trinket from the junk drawer.

◻ ROUND UP THE CORDS. Dig behind the console so you can zip-tie and color-code all the TV and DVD player (and Apple TV and stereo and gaming system) cords so that they’re in neat bundles. The next time you replace an electronic device, it’ll be a cinch.

◻ TAKE STOCK OF YOUR HIDDEN INVENTORY. Hidden storage is genius because it makes clutter disappear in a flash, but it also means you don’t often get to see all the things you’ve been stowing. Take some time to go through what’s stored, and determine what you use on a regular basis. If you find yourself saying, “Oh, wow, I had no idea we still had this!,” then it’s time to donate or toss.

A: Mementos have one of two purposes: to display or to save. Cramming something onto a cluttered shelf is a sign to let go of it. Items that you want to save—personal letters, a ribbon from third grade—need physical limitations. Give each family member an airtight container to keep on a high closet shelf.

—ERIN ROONEY DOLAND, ORGANIZER AND EDITOR IN CHIEF OF TUMBLEWEED. LIFE AND EDITOR-AT-LARGE AT UNCLUTTERER.COM

ALL YOU NEED IS AN AFTERNOON TO ARTFULLY DECORATE THE SPACE ABOVE YOUR SOFA. TRY ANY OF THESE SETUPS.

Before hanging any frames, trace each one onto newspaper, and play around with the cutouts taped to the wall until you find a setup that feels well-proportioned. Put some of your biggest, boldest pieces below, lining up their bottom edges. Build up vertical columns from there.

Using frames and mats in a simple colorway unifies all the artwork in this setup, giving the collection an orderly look even with a few unframed items sprinkled in. Start with one piece somewhere in the middle. Then, aiming for balance, build up, down, and out. Haphazard spacing—two inches separating some pieces, four or five between others—lends an organic, easygoing look. Ignore the old-school “eye level” hanging rule and let the artwork explode downward. It makes for a fresh and dynamic display.

There’s no measuring or hammering needed with an ultra-adaptable, picture-ledge display that lets you add pieces or shift them around when you want. Position the frames so they’re overlapping slightly in an uneven way. The goal: a silhouette of undulating heights. A picture ledge that’s 3½ inches deep is enough to layer two framed pieces.

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Your living room gets so much daily play that keeping it organized can seem like a constant battle. It’s also such a versatile spot—a playground, a reading nook, and a place to entertain—that it helps to do a little sweep-through every day so it’s always in order when you’re ready to relax.

The easiest way to maintain an organized living room is to give it a little attention every day or so. Set a timer for five minutes and instruct everyone in the house to do as much as they can in that timeframe to reset the space. Do it earlier in the evening rather than later, so you have energy and won’t put it off to surf the Internet. You’ll be surprised how much you can accomplish in such a short amount of time.

Once your living room magic is done, take a picture of your media consoles and bookshelves so that you can admire your hard work—and also so you’ll have a reference when it comes time to tidy up.

As you begin to add new books to your collection, follow the one-in, one-out rule. Any outtakes go straight to a friend, donation center, or library.

When you have a few extra minutes, tackle a little cleaning. For hard surfaces, the method you use depends on the item’s finish.

Dampen a cloth with water and a little dishwashing liquid. Wring it out, and wipe the furniture from top to bottom. Avoid solvents, ammonia, and vinegar, all of which can dissolve the coating or finish.

Wet a cloth with distilled water, and wring it out well, as excess water can warp wood. Wipe the piece in long strokes from top to bottom. Buff with a clean cloth.

Dust the furniture from top to bottom with a microfiber cloth. Mix one teaspoon of dishwashing liquid with one gallon of water, dampen a cloth with the solution, then wring it out. Wipe the piece of furniture from top to bottom.

Dust the entire piece from top to bottom with a microfiber cloth. Douse a clean cloth with odorless mineral spirits (a solvent sold at hardware stores that thins oil finishes and removes grime). Wipe from top to bottom.

Dust the piece from top to bottom with a microfiber cloth. Dampen another cloth with mineral spirits, and rub the surface in circular strokes from top to bottom. Or, use a cloth that has been dipped in a solution of one teaspoon of dishwashing liquid and one gallon of water, then wrung out well.

Vacuum the surface from top to bottom with a brush attachment. Mix two tablespoons of dishwashing liquid in a bucket of cool water. Dip in a cloth, and wring it out very well. Wipe the piece from top to bottom. For a deeper cleaning, call a professional.

Clear off the coffee table. When it’s free of clutter, you’ll be able to enjoy movie night (and just Tuesday night) even more.

For softer items, like couches and ottomans, take into consideration what cloth they’re cut from. That’ll determine how to clean it.

Vacuum the piece of furniture on a low setting with a brush attachment. Rub soiled areas with a microfiber cloth that is slightly dampened with water. Water can remove dirt but won’t permanently discolor the leather. For deeper cleaning, call a professional upholstery cleaner.

Vacuum the piece on a low setting with an upholstery attachment using long, horizontal strokes from top to bottom. Do not use the vacuum’s hard-bristle attachment because it can pull on fabric. For deeper cleaning, call a professional.

Clean suede using a product recommended by the manufacturer. Avoid using any moisture on suede because it will permanently stain. For deeper cleaning, call a professional.

For cotton and linen, remove the covers and machine-wash them on a delicate setting following the care instruction on the label, which is usually attached near the zipper. For silk, handwash the covers in a sink filled with warm water and a capful of delicate laundry detergent. Or, have the cover dry-cleaned.

Run a dry-cleaning sponge over the fabric in short, even strokes to lift ingrained dirt. Be gentle on jacquard, since delicate yarns can pull and snag. Add two capfuls of mild detergent to a bucket of cool water. Dip in a sponge or cloth, wring it out well, and go back and forth over the fabric with long strokes. Use as little liquid as possible, since wet fabric can sprout mildew. Let the pieces air-dry.

Open and close your window treatments (blinds, curtains, shades) every few days to displace dust from the fabric. When it falls to the floor, just run a dust mop over the surface.

A dusty TV is no bueno. Clean the screens of plasma, LCD, and standard television sets in long, horizontal strokes, beginning at the top of the screen, with a dry electrostatic dust-mop cloth or a dry-cleaning sponge. (Shorter strokes cause smudging.) Wipe the casing of the set with an electrostatic dust-mop cloth lightly spritzed with glass cleaner. To remove stubborn dirt, purchase a specialty screen wipe, and follow the package instructions.

Wipe the entire surface of a remote with a disinfecting wipe. For sticky patches, dip a cotton swab in rubbing alcohol, pinch out or away the excess moisture with your fingers, and circle the sides and tops of the buttons to dissolve grime.

Dust the entire surface of the stereo, including the knobs, by wiping everything with an electrostatic dust-mop cloth that has been slightly dampened with water and a few drops of dishwashing liquid, then wrung out. Then run a clean medium-sized paintbrush with soft, natural bristles over the speakers from left to right to lift dust.

No matter the material, wipe the base of your lamps with a cloth dampened with water. For shades, vacuum them on a low setting with a brush attachment in long, vertical strokes. To clean a fabric shade, roll it from side to side in a tub filled with a few inches of lukewarm water and two capfuls of delicate laundry detergent. Rinse with a damp cloth, and gently blot the inside and outside with a white or colorfast towel. Lay the towel on the floor, and set the shade on it right-side up to dry.

YOUR MONTHLY CLEANING CHECKLIST

◻ Dust the moldings

◻ Dust the door frames and jambs

◻ Vacuum the heating and AC vents

◻ Wipe down the switch plates and the doorknobs with a soapy cloth